THE ROENTGENOGRAPHIC MANIFESTATIONS OF THE RUBELLA SYNDROME IN NEWBORN INFANTS

¹ From the Departments of Radiology, Pediatrics and Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor University College of Medicine, and the Newborn Service, Jefferson Davis Hospital, Houston, Texas

During the past year, a large number of newborn infants whose mothers had rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy has been observed and unique clinical and roentgenographic features have been noted. The clinical features consist of growth retardation, thrombocytopenia purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, a large anterior fontanel, congenital heart disease, eye defects and deafness. The unique roentgenographic features, which we feel are pathognomonic of the rubella syndrome, consist of irregularity and poor mineralization of the growth plate, as well as an altered trabecular pattern of the metaphyses of the long bones, particularly at the distal femoral and proximal tibial areas. These osseous abnormalities rapidly disappear in those infants who grow normally but show persistence and even alteration in those who do not thrive.

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